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But Bella had not been at Mr Gibson's
house at the time, and Camilla, though she presumed that her own
conduct had been discussed in a manner very injurious to herself, did
not believe that any step was being then arranged which would be
positively antagonistic to her own views. The day fixed was now so
very near that there could, she felt, be no escape for the victim.
But she was wrong.
Mr Gibson had been found by Mrs French in a very excited state on that
occasion. He had wept, and pulled his hair, and torn open his
waistcoat, had spoken of himself as a wretch, pleading, however, at the
same time, that he was more sinned against than sinning, had paced
about the room with his hands dashing against his brows, and at last
had flung himself prostrate on the ground. The meaning of it all was
that he had tried very hard, and had found at last that 'he couldn't do
it.' 'I am ready to submit,' said he, 'to any verdict that you may
pronounce against me, but I should deceive you and deceive her if I
didn't say at once that I can't do it.


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